Post navigation

SHUSO HOSSEN CEREMONY: SEGMENT 4

Today’s video captures the last of my musical presentations at the Shuso Hossen in March. As I see it now, the first three (see previous videos) were really “preambles”; where I amble around aimlessly before getting down to addressing the Koan in a straight forward way. Below I’ve printed the Shuso Koan which may help you get a better understanding of what I was trying to do in my final rap/singing presentation.

Actually, this was not my final presentation. As you will see in the video, this rap/song segues into my singing, along with the help of the group, an altered version of Sly Stones “I Want To Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again”. Shorty after the Ceremony, I crossed paths with blues singer Richard “Stoney” Stone and asked him to do a rendition of that song in my studio. You can hear this version, along with the visuals that accompanied it the night of the Ceremony, at.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdWtlB6cphI).

A student came to the teacher and said I want to study with you. Fine, you may study with me but, you are an artist and I want to know how you can fulfill your Bodhisattva Vows as a Zen Buddhist while painting at your easel or playing your trumpet.

Who is your picture freeing? What delusions are your tunes transforming? What dharma gates are being embodied when you sculpt? How does your art awaken anyone, including yourself??

——-

THE FOUR BODHISATTVA VOWS

—–

Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to free them.

Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to transform them.

The Dharmas are boundless, I vow to embody them.

The Buddha Way is unsurpassable, I vow to awaken.

COMMENTS. The comment feature has been turned off due to massive amounts of Robo-Spam. However, please send any comments to the following address at G mail;